بسم الله الرحمان الرحيم
Fasting on Saturday has no differences among the scholars if it is a compulsory fast. Then, if it is a voluntary fast, can we fast on Saturday?
The scholars have these views:
First view: Permissible without issue. This is the view of the Maliki School, Imam Ahmad, Ibn Taimiyyah and Ibn Qayyim.
Second view: It is disliked if it is singled out, but when it is combined with a preceding day or succeeding day then there is nothing wrong.
Meanwhile, the jurists have unanimous views that when Saturday coincides with special days of voluntary fasting, one should endeavor to fast.
Then the question that come to mind is where do those claiming it is haraam to fast on Saturday base their claims?
They based their opinion on this narration:
Narrated by `Abdullaah Ibn Busr who said: The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu ‘alaihi wassallam) said: “Do not fast on Saturday except that which is an obligation upon you. If anyone of you cannot find anything other than grape stalks or the bark of a tree, let him suck on it. (Narrated by At-Tirmidhi).
This is the hadith that made Shaykh Albani, a scholar of our present time to claim voluntary fasting on Saturday is haraam without any scholars of the past to rely upon.
Therefore, we repeat again; The view of Haraam of Saturday fasting is a lone view of Shaykh Albaani and other fellow Albanists.
Firstly, looking at the strength of the hadith above, the scholars hadith don’t have a consensus view on its authenticity. Some hold it as weak, some hold it to be shaadh, some hold it to be mudtarib, some hold it to be abrogated while others hold it to be hasan. Even some students of Shaykh Albaani himself hold to the weakness of the hadith. More so, this said hadith contradict numerous rigorously established texts supporting Saturday fast.
The reason it will be difficult to find a scholar who is well-versed in fiqh and its usool that will claim voluntary fasting on Saturday is Haraam.
Also, the sayings of the Prophet, his actions and that of the Sahaabah and the later generations show they fasted on Saturday and it is well known among them to fast for consecutive days to attain piety; further questioning the view of Shaykh Albani on outright prohibitions of fasting on Saturday.
Some of the texts supporting voluntary fasts on Saturday include:
A. Narrated by al-Bukhari (1985) and Muslim (1144) from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say:
“No one of you should fast on Friday, unless he fasts (a day) before it or after it.”
B. Also, the hadith of Juwayriyah was narrated by al-Bukhari (1986) from Juwayriyah bint al-Harith (may Allah be pleased with her), that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) entered upon her on a Friday and she was fasting. He said;“. Did you fast yesterday?”
She said, “No.” He said: “Do you intend to fast tomorrow?” She said: “No. ”He said: “Then break your fast.”
C. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The most beloved of fasting to Allah is the fast of Dawud; he used to fast one day and not the next.” [Bukhaari and Muslim]
Saturday surely falls on alternate days of the fast of Prophet Dawud (AS).
D. The Prophet would fast many days consecutively and would also leave fast many days as narrated by Aisha. [Narrated by Bukhaari].
E. He do fast a lot in Sha’aban almost finishing it leaving just a few days. Saturday is inclusive in those days. [Narrated by AlBukhaari]
F. The Prophet said, “There is a room in paradise the inner part can be view from outside and the outer part can be viewed from inside. Allah prepared it for one who is soft in speech, feed the poor, fast consecutively and pray in the night while the people are asleep. [Narrated by Al-Bayhaaqi].
Of course, Saturday is included in this consecutive days.
G. The Hadith of Umm Salamah that the Prophet is plentiful in fasting on Saturday. [Narrated by Ahmad].
H. Narrations that the Prophet don’t leave white days of fasting every lunar month. [Abu Daawud, Tirmidhi, An-Nasai].
- The Prophet approved of the consecutive voluntary fasts of Hamzah Aslami giving choice of fasting or leaving while on the journey.
• Many of the Sahaabahs fasted consecutively for years or many days of the year leaving out the days of prohibitions of fasting [Eidul Had’ha , Eidul Fitri and the days of tashreeq (The three days after the day of Eidul Adha)].
This is a tradition of pious people even before the advent of the Prophet Muhammad. The only difference with that of our Ummah is eating the Sahur and Iftaar.
Some of the Sahaabahs and pious predecessors who embark on yearly fasting include:
- Hamzah Al-Salami
- Umar bn Khattab
- His son; Abdullah bn Umar
- Uthman bn Affan
- Abu Tal’ha Al-Ansari
- Abu Umaamah and his wife
- Aisha. May Allah bless them all.
Among the later generations are:
- Sa’eed bn Musayyab
- Abu Amr bn Himaas
- Saeed bn Ibrahim BH Abdir-Rahman bn Awful
- Al-Aswad bn Yazeed
- Shu’bah bn Hajjaaj
- Al-Imam Abu Haneefah
To see narrations concerning the fasting of the Sahaabahs and Salafs listed above. pls check:
- Hilyatul Awliyah of Abu Nuaym.
- Sunanul Kubra of Bayhaaqi Vol.4. Chapter of a year fasting.
- Al-‘Ibar of Adh-Dhabi
What are we taking from this? The Salafs don’t see Saturday as a day of prohibition of voluntary fasting. Various texts from the Prophet and the Sahabahs showing permissibility of fasting on Saturday indicate we can’t act on that hadith of prohibition with its apparent meaning. Rather, it is compulsory to do ta’weel of it due to its strength level and contradictions with established texts and facts.
This is the understanding of the jurists and classical scholars.
As such, if fasting on Saturday coincides with a special voluntary fasting like ‘Arafah, ‘Aashoraah, alternative fast of Prophet Daawud (AS) the white days, days of Sha’aban, 6 days of Shawwal, Muharram or other habitual fasts of a person, it is permissible to fast it.
We don’t know of any ikhtilaaf (difference of scholarly opinion) on this.
In conclusion:
- Fasting consecutive days with Saturday inclusive has been the tradition of pious men even before our noble Prophet (SAW) and this will continue till the Judgment Day.
Ibn Umar was asked concerning yearly consecutive fast. He replied, “We consider such practice as the way of the Sabiqoon”. [As-Sunanul Kubraa of Al-Bayhaaqi].
- Fasting on the day of Arafah is Mustahabb (recommended) irrespective of the day it falls. This will remain the view of the Muslims from generation to generation till Yaomul Qiyaamah.
- Special fasts falling on Saturday are not unknown to the Muslims of the past. They also experience it yet, they never condemn fasting on such day. That is enough for all succeeding generations to follow suit as it also serve as evidence against those who oppose this practice.
- Many pious predecessors fasted consecutively for whole years excluding the five prohibited days. If this is the case, how can we make a case for absolute prohibition of Saturday fasting without these great number of pious scholars who practice it being aware?
- Pronouncing something haram is very serious and sensitive matter in the deen especially when the text used is not well established, and also clashes with many narrations the Ummah accepted with Qabul.
- How do you feel when the Muslims are performing ‘Ibaadah (worship) while you are left out due to an understanding based on a single scholar’s interpretation? Think deep my brother.
This article was compiled and edited by the MSSN Bariga Central Branch Scribe Team 1445 AH with assistance from Madrasatul Mumtiah.
For further reading, please click on this link https://t.me/mumti5/7237
